Paedophile Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins killed in UK prison attack
Watkins, serving 29 years for child sex crimes, was allegedly stabbed and two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder
Ian Watkins, the former frontman of the British rock band Lostprophets, was killed on Saturday in a prison attack in England, where he was serving a 29-year sentence for multiple sex crimes against children.
Watkins, 48, pleaded guilty in November 2013 to 13 child sex offences – including making or possessing child pornographic images, sexually assaulting at least one child under 13 and attempting to rape a baby.
He was sentenced the following month for what the judge called “new depths of depravity”. He was serving his lengthy term at a prison in Wakefield, England, nicknamed the “Monster Mansion” because of the high-profile criminals held there.
On Saturday, West Yorkshire police said in a statement that officers were sent to the prison at around 9.40am following the report of an assault on an inmate. They arrived to find a 48-year-old male suffering “serious” but unspecified injuries. Despite attempting life-saving measures, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Although police did not identify the victim in their statement, prison sources have since confirmed that Watkins was killed after being attacked by fellow inmates, the BBC reported. He was allegedly stabbed, according to local reports.
Following the attack, police said two men, aged 25 and 43, had been arrested on suspicion of murder. An investigation remains ongoing and no further details were released.